Blog about stuff on Solid Edge CAD software

With the new interface, some of you may have re-discover new functionalities that was buried under a too much personalize interface.

First reaction, you may have said to you, never need it when my interface was personalize so why use it?

Second reaction, yeah remember this one but I am not familiar with it so I better leave there; my time is too precious to start using new feature.

Third one, why not give a try, I didn’t use it before so what I have to lose except saving me time.

What’s that feature we just re-discover?

Like the tile said «Assembly Relationship Assistant»

This feature helps you place relations in batch. I estimate that 60 to 80% of all assembly constraint can be recognize by the system and meet our request.

STOP I didn’t say the system will work automatically by itself resolving your problems; you will need to make some intellectual effort in order to make thing work correctly. But this is better than running for gas…

Assembly Relations

In a perfect world, once parts are place in an assembly, we shouldn’t have to touch relations. Moving parts around, software’s should understand the new intention and adjust the type, the distance and the orientation of any relations. On top of that…. constraints should been applied to the correct faces.

This is an equation with four variables and has as much variations has there is faces in the combination, so a lot of calculations in perspective.

In a past article I talk about «Flash Fit».

This tool is perfect when dealing with a single instance that has no constraint inside a assembly.

User manually defines each relations need to position the part.

Relations – Step for creation

In general relation have between five and six steps, including selecting the type of constraint.

Depending on the situation two or three step are resolve by Solid Edge base on the logic of faces selection.

The type of constraint

The origin part

The destination part

Orientation

Leaving, in most obvious cases, only two clicks to the user:

The origin face

The destination face

If you master the options and take a little time to prepare the part, you can make this a one click operation.

But who have time for preparation that involve management? Who have time to manage time these time’s… that’s another topic that I reserve for another time…. 😉

What if I need to place multiple relations on multiple parts that are in position? What if I need to re-define relations? What about importing a whole assembly that came from customer or supplier?

This is where applying constraint could be time consuming.

So how can I, as a designer, reduce that time where i deal with relations?

Assembly Relation Assistant

The Relation Assistant can help you save time, energy and frustration when it comes time to redefine assembly relations. Also in combination with assembly mirror this could become a powerful workflow.

To activate the command, from the Ribbon inside the Tools tab under the group Assistant

ARA – Options

ARA has general options to guide you in the choice of constraint.

Once the general options are define, Solid Edge propose to follow three simple steps.

ARA – Constrains selection

The last step is where the user will work to launch the recognition of relations.

In the upper section user select constraints that need to be recognize.

Use the “Process “button to launch the analysis

Results will be display in the middle section

User then decides which one he will keep using the check box.

With the “accept” button he validate he’s choice.

User can then reprocess the system with another choice of constraint or parts.

Conclusion

Use judiciously with a little practice, ideally inside a training class, the relationship assistant will become an important tool inside your design arsenal.

Combine with the mirror assembly, creation in place and the transfer command; it will be easier than ever to modifier the project structure to get the maximum performance.